Continuous kiln



Sp't. 27, 1938.

A. GEYER CONTINUOUS KILN F'ild March 10, 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 27, 1938.

fi AV A A. GEYER CONTINUOUS KILN Filed March o, 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 27, 1938. A. GEYER A CON'JINUOUS KILN Filed March o, 1937 16 Sheets-She'et 3 Sept. 27, 1938.

A. GEYER 2,l3l,418

CONTINUOUS KILN Ey&

/N ven %on A. GEYER Sept. 27, 1938.

` CONTINUOUS KILN Filed March 10 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 Sept. 27, 1938. A. GEYER CONTINUOUS KILN 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed March lO, 1957 Sept. 27, 1938.

A. GEYER CONTINUOUS KILN Filed March 10, 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet ll 'n /NVGN 0 Sept. 27, 1938. A. GEYER CONTINUOUS KILN 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed March o, 1937 Sept. 27, 1938. A. GEYER 2,l3l,418

CONTINUOUS KILN V 4 Filed March o, 1937 16 sheets-sheet 13 Sept. 27, 1938. GEYER 2 ,13l,418

CONTINUOUS KILN Filed March 10, 1937 l6 Sheets-Sheet 14 -se t.27,1938. GEYER 2,131,4s

l CONTINUOUS KILN Filed March o, 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet `5 Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED sTArEs z ma CONTINUOUS KILN p Arthur Geyer, Chippenham, England Application March 10,

1937, Serial No. 130,204

In Great Britain March 13, '1936' r 10 Claims.

This invention relates to continuous kilns for burning bricks and the like goods of the kind in which the chambers have in the base of each of them a channel with rail tracks permitting trolleys or bogies, supporting sections constituting a removable floor arch with goods loaded thereon, to be introduced into and withdrawn from the chambers.

The present invention consists in a kiln of the kind above referred to, that is to say of the kind in which the chambers have in the base of each of them a channel With rail tracks permitting trolleys or bogies supporting sections constituting a removable fioor arch to be introduced into and withdrawn from the chambers, characterized in this that the fire connection fiues are provided between alternate chambers of a group or bank so that the firing of necessity takes place in succession in alternate chambers of the bank or group. g

Thus, where there are two groups or banks of chambers and the chambers being regarded as numbered in succession I, la, 2, Za, 3, sa, up to 8 and Ba, in one group or bank from leit to right, and the chambers in the 'other group or bank being regarded as numbered 9a, 9, lsa, ll! and so on up to !ta and IS from right to left of the next group or bank, the chambers I and 2 are connected by a fire connection flue at one side of the group or bank while the chambers la and Ea are similarly connected on the same side, the chamber 2 being connected with the chamber 3 and the chamber Za with the chamber 3a on the opposite side and the remaining chambers being connected by fire connection fiues in a similar order and manner so that fire will travel through the chambers I, 2, 3 until it reaches the chamber 8 in one group or bank from which it will pass to the chamber 9 in the next group or bank and 40' subsequently through chambers le and ll and so on to the chamber |6 from which again the fire will pass to the chamber I. g

The passage of the fire in 'succession through the chambers la, 2a, to !Ba and again to la will 45= take place in a like sequence and as will be appreciated with the arrangement two fires may be in operation simultaneously.

Conveniently, the fire connection fiues open into portions of the chambers in which goods are not set; and smoke or damp air fiues are provided opening likewise into these portions which are dimensioned so that a wicket or wall may be built up therein toprevent the passage of the fire when a chamber is in'fire into the 55; smoke or damp air fiues and doors are associated with the opening in the 'chambers by Way of which access is available for setting and drawing for preventing theentry of air to the smoke or damp air fiues.

As will be appreciated, the building up of a wall or wicketin the spaces provided in the ends of the chambers in which goods are not set, while permitting the passage of the fire from one chamber to the next alternate chamber of the group, Will interrupt the connection of the chamber with the damp air flue'ahd will also function as' a protection' for the'door which may be of metal forming the closure memberfofthe cham ber.

In the roofs of the chamber there may be provided hot air fiues'extendinglengthwise of the chamber andterminating in hot air fiues running parallel with* the inner and/or outer sidesof each bank or group of chambers.

With such an arrangement communication between the chambers and the hot air fiues may be established and interrupted by the provision of pipes extndin'g through the uter roof or cover and intoopenings in the vaultor arch of each chamber in such manner that when in this position fuel may be supplied to the chamber or when raised from the openings in the arch of the chamber may permit hot air to travel in an inward or outward direction to or from the chamber and from and into the hot air flue.

` At this point it may be 'mentioned that the fire connection' fiues, smoke and damp air fiues and the hot air jfiues are m utually independent systems of fiues.

An important feature of a kiln in accordance with theinvention is the Construction or ar: rangement of the chambers so that they are all accessible from one side of a group or bank of chambers for setting goods therein and at the other side 'for the withdrawal of the burnt goods.

In certain cases, in accordanc with the invention, thechambersj may be arranged to be fired by furnaces located at one or other end of the chamber; 'and optionally in addition to be fired fromthe top of the chamber by the direct introduction of fuel thereinto. V

' Normally, however, kilns in accordance with the invention are arrangedfor top firing only by the introduction of fuel through openings provided in the roofs of the chambers.

Where the goods to be burnt in a kiln in accordance with the invention in their raw state possess an appropriate degree of rigidity or strength as would be 'the 'case with dry pressed bricks, they may be set directly one upon another so that the load due to the weight of the goods is transmitted through the underlying layers of the goods to the floor. i

Where, on the other hand, the goods in their raw state possess an insufilcient degree of strength as would be the case, for instance, with wire cut bricks means are provided whereby during the drying operation which is eected in the kiln, the goods are protected` from the action of any excessive load.

Thus in accordance with the invention abutments may be provided in the walls of the chamber or chambers in which drying is effected at appropriate heights on which, during thezdrying i operation, pallets or bearers on which the goods are stacked spaced an appropriate distance-apart may be supported.

For instance, in accordance with 'the invention, the abutments may be so positioned that upon each of them pallets or bearers supporting four layers of bricks may be arranged.

Where provision is made for minimizing the load on the goods duringthe -.dying operation `in the manner above described the .trolleysorbogies employed are -provided with .a .plurality ;of supports arranged one above the other atappropniate heights or distances .apart adapted-to engage the ends of the pallets-or bearers whichxsuppor-ts may be arranged to be .raisedrand.lowered,so-that in lowering they will depost .the .ends of -the pallets or bearers .on -the -abutments :provided -in the walls of the kiln and `-on ::raising -they will operate to raise the endsof -the-,palletsor bearers from the abutments to permit the withdrawal of the goods supported :thereby from -the chamber in which drying is=effected.

After the drying operation -has ebeencom-pleted it will be necessary to remove the-;pallets or bearers prior to burning and to this end after .the goods supported on the ;pallets-or .bearers have been removed from the chamber by trolleys as above described, the platform of the `trolley-bearing the floor section is jacked :up to lan -extent sufficient to enable the -topmost-layeraofeach-of the lower tiers of *goods tobe brought against the lowermost layer of :goods -of the `tier :next above it so that-the =whole .weight -.or loadofthe several tiers of goods is taken -by rthe ;platform when the pallets being relieved from ;load `may be withdrawn laterally. e

In order that the lowermost layer of ;pallets may be removed in this way, the ;floor sections may be provided with elevated portions adapted to extend in an upward direction between the pallets or bearers-or alternatiyelya :layer -or layers of goods supported on the floor section may be stacked 'or arranged .to secure-the like result.

When employing pallets `or bearersin the manner above described after they have been removed, the drying 'operation bei-ng completed, there is left ran excess .space between-amb and setting. The dry bricks re-set ;as described :are jacked up as much as the shrinkage makes -it necessary -i-n order to fill the-chamber :as :normally required. i

At this point it may be mentioned :that .the employment of pallets or bearers -somewhat in the manner 'above described `is convenient `even in dealing with, :for instance, burnt ;bricks but in such case provsion will -be made for the rintroduction -'of pallets -or bearers only ;below the lowest layerof bricks.

'Where such -provision is rmadethe bearersand the bricks stacked thereon :may .bestoredlin-;a manner subsequently to 'be described so :that 'the floor sections are again available for usein loading the kiln.

With such an arrangement there is preferably furnished adjacent to the side of each group of chambers, in the vicinity of the transfer tracks for the trolleys or bogies bearing the burnt goods, a stacking ground furnished with supports for the burnt goods of such height that when the floor sections are lowered intoposition thereon or into a position in which the burnt goods may be supported thereby free from the floor section .and on pallets extending between such supports below the burnt goods when the trolleys or bogies and'in'the latter case the floor sections also may be withdrawn for re-use.

'Furthermore a transfer track is preferably pro- I vided on the side of each of the stacking grounds remote from the kiln.

In the preferred arrangement there will thus be a kiln' comprising a plurality of chambers arranged in two groups-or banks with aspace'between in which a transfer track is `provided for setting or loading and on the side of :each ;group or bank of chambersremote from the saidtransfer track, a further transfer-track for ;the passage of .the trolleys or bogies withtheburnt-goods and two stacking grounds ,located between each of such last-mentioned transfer -tracks -anda curther transfer track.

Each of the transfer tracks -will normally-extend to a loading place and suchloading places are preferably furnished 'with mechanical loaders ;for transferring the -bur-nt goods towagons or lorries.

Additional transfertracks may be provided :for instance for permitting .the `passage-of thetrolleys or bogies ;from the one 'to the other of the transfer tracks located on the outersides -of'the two .banks or groupsof chambers and thesefurther tracks may be provided with loops permitting trolleys or bogies in `transit :inopposit'e -directions .to pass.

From the foregoing description .it -will `be =seen that at no 'stage between the delivery of the goods from the brick-making machine or the like on to the ;floor sections 1ip=to the loading-of the finished goods-on to lorries or `wagons are .the goods handled and thus economy of labour is securedwhile, if, asis preferred, the loading is effected by mechanicalmeans a further saving inlabour costs is effected.

The invention will be described 'further in detail, and `by way -of example, *with reference to the accompanying `drawings in which:-

`Figure 1 is a plan -view showing the general layout -of a plant for burning :bricks and like goods, .in accordance With the invention;

Figures 2 and *3 are views in section of .abank of chambers of a, kiln such as :forms part of the plantiillustrated in Figure 1, thesections bei-ng taken -on planes respectively indicated by -2-2 and 3-3 of Figure 4, which .is asectional 'plan viewon :the lineA-A of Figure 3.

-Figure '5 is a sectional plan view thereof on the line -5-5 of Figure 3.

Figures -6 and '7 are fragmentary'views in *section on planes corresponding with the planes of section of Figures 2 and 3; and' on-a-stil1 larger scale of one chamber showing 'one manner of stacking bricks for burning in the kiln;

Figures 8 and 9--are similar views .illustrating one mode of stacking goods in the chambers for drying, while Figure 10 is a sectional plan view'on the line lO-l'll of Figure 12;

Figure 11 is a view in elevation partly in section on the line Il-H of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view on the line !2-!2 of Figure 11 on an enlarged scale, illustrating a Construction of bogie or trolley for setting goods in the chambers of the kiln;

Figures 13, 14, 15 and 16 are plan views illustrating alternative layouts in accordance with the invention, while Figure 17 is a fragmentary plan view illustrat ing a suitable arrangement in the case of a kiln having a large number of chambers.

Ae may be seen from Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 the kiln comprises a plurality of chambers i adapted to be fired in an appropriate sequence and asshownin Figures 1 and 3 and more clearly in Figures 7- and 9 in the base of each of the chambers there is a channel 2 in which rail tracks 3 are laid permitting trolleys or bogies 4 supporting sections 5 (see Figures 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12) constituting a removable floor with goods and, as shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, bricks 6 loaded thereon to be introduced into and withclrawn from the chambers.

Adjacent to the base of each of the chambers, as may be seen in Figures 3, 7, 9 and 12 are provided supports 'i for the floor sections so positioned that the trolleys or bogies may be withdrawn, leaving the sections and the goods there on in position in the chamber during drying and burning.

With the rail tracks in the channels of the several chambers there' are associated transfer tracks 8 for the passage of the trolleys or bogies with the sections constituting the removable floor supported thereon to the machine house 9 shown in Figures 1, 13, 14, 15 and 16 and where the goods to be burnt are stacked on them and for the passage of the trolleys or bogies, when stacked, to the kilnand also with the burnt goods thereon to a storage or stacking ground n as shown in these figures or to a loading place II as shown in Figure 1 where the goods may be transferred to railway wagons or lorries.

The transfer tracks which extend lengthwise of the bank or banks of chambers constituting the kilo are, may be seen from Figure 2, located at a level such that the trolleys or bogies hearing the floor sections may be run onto the transfer trolleys or bogies.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1, 15.

and 17 the chambers are arranged in two banks denoted generally as A and B.

.a the case of the constructions illustrated in Figures 13, 14 and 15 only one bank of chambers is shown.

As may be seen from Figures 6 and 11 the floor sections are so formed that they engage with one another on one side being furnished with a groove !2 and on the other side with a tongue portion !3 adapted to promote the securing of a gas tight joint between the sections.

The two remaining sides of each floor section are provided, as may be seen in Figures 7, 9 and 12 with a skirt M adapted toextend into a sand seal :for the like purpose.

Where the goods to be burnt in the kiln, in accordance with the invention, in their raw state possess an appropriate degree of p rigidity or strength as would be the case with dry pressed bricks, they maybe set directly one upon another so that the load due to the weight of the goods is transmittedthrough the underlying layers of the goods to the floor; i

Where, on the other hand, the goods in their raw state ,possess an insufficient degree of strength as .would be the case, for instance, with wire-cut bricks, within the chamber are provided abutments I5 as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 positioned at appropriate heights upon each of which pallets or bearers !6 as shown in Figure 9 supporting four layers of bricks or the like may be arranged.

Where provision is made for minimizing the load on the goods the trolleys or bogies employed in setting and unloading the chambers are provided with a plurality of supports ll, see- Figures 10, 11 and 12, arranged one above another at appropriate heights or distances apart adapted to engage the ends of the pallets or bearers which supports may be arranged to be raised and lowered, so that in lowering they will deposit the ends of the pallets or bearers on the abutments provided in the walls of the kiln and on raising will operate to raise the ends of the pallets or bearers from the abutments to permit the withdrawal of the goods supported thereby from the chamber in which drying is effected.

These supports are connected with standards !8 removably Secured to the frame !9 of the trolleys or bogies, the wheels 2!) of which are secured to axles running in bearings provided in the frame.

With the frame is pivotally connected a hand lever 2! a portion of which co-operates with a ramp 22 on the rod 23 connecting together two brake shoes 24 co-operating with the wheels for I arresting motion of the trolleys 'or bogies.

Further, the trolleys or bogies are provided with two jacks 25, adapted to be operated simultaneously or in unison by the hand lever 26, the actuation of the jacks being necessary in raising or lowering the sections forming the floor of the chambers and in the operation of removing 'the bearers.

As will be understoocl, where the character of the goods is such that the employment of bearers or pallets in the drying operation isunneeessary the standards will be removed from the frame.

In connection with Figures 7 and 9 it may be pointed out that' the jacks 27 are of somewhat different Construction. They are designed, however, to perform the function of raising and lowering the sections forming the floor of the cham-.

ber.

After the drying operation has been completed rernoval of the pallets or bearers prior to burning will be necessary and after the goods supported on the pallets or bearers have been removed from 5 sections are, in the Construction illustrated in F'igures 10 to 12, provided with elevated portions 28 adapted to extend in an upward direction between the pallets or bearers !6, or alternatively, a layer or layers of goods supported on the floor section may be stacked or arranged to secure the e like result. v i

At'. this point 'itmay be repeated that even'` in dealing with goods, for instance dry pressed bricks' where the employmentof pallets or bearers to prevent crushing is unnecessary, provision maybe made for the employment of pallets or bearers only below the lowermost layer of bricks which are introduced after the burning operation has been completed so that the bricks supported on their bearers may be stacked on the stackng ground on which are furnished supports 29 for the bearers or pallets or the floor sections, adapted to retain them at a height enabling the trolleys or bogies to be introduced beneath them and to be withdrawn. i

Each of the transfer tracks provided will normally extend to a loading place ll where wagons or lorries may be loaded with bricks.

In the case of the kilns as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, and 17 the interior of each of the chambers is accessible from one side of a group or bank for setting the goods therein and at the other side for the withdrawal of the burnt goods, and where the kilns are arranged in two banks the openings 44 whereby the goods may be set in the kiln 'are provided on the sides of the two banks which are adjacent, the openings 45 for the withdrawal of the burnt goods being arranged on the opposite sides of the banks of chambers.

In certain cases the chambers may be arranged to be fired by furnaces located at one or other end of the chamber and optionally in addition to be fired from the top of the chamber by the direct introduction of fuel thereinto.

Generally, however, the kilns will be arranged for top firing only.

The fire connection fiues '46 are provided between alternate chambers of a group.

Thus, where there are two groups or banks of chambers and the chambers being regarded as numbered in succession l, la, 2, Za, 3, 3a up to 8 and Sa, see Figure 15, in one group or bank from left to right, and the chambers in the other group or bank being regarded as numbered Qa, 9, lila, 'ID and soon up to lBa'and !6 from right to left of the next group or bank, the chambers l and 2 are connected by a fire connection fiue at one 'side of the group or bank while the chambers Ia and 2a are similarly connected on the same side, the chamber '2 being connected with the chamber 3 and the chamber Za with the chamber ?na on the opposite side and the remaining chambers being connected by fire connection flues in a similar order and 'manner so that fire will travel through the chambers I, 2, 3, until it reaches the chamber 8 in one group or bank from which it will pass to the chamber 9 in the next group or bank and subsequently through chambers 'a and H and so on to the chamber !S from which again the fire will pass to the chamber l.

The fire connection flues open into portions i] of the chambers (see Figure 2) in which goods are not set, and smoke or damp air flues 48 are provided opening likewise into these portions which are 'dimensioned so that a Wicket or wall may be built up therein toprevent the passage of the fire when a chamber is in fire into the smoke or damp air flues and doors are associated with the opening in 'the chambers by way of which access is available for setting and drawing for preventing the entry of air to the smoke or damp air fiues.

In the 'roofs of each of the chambers there is provided a hot air flue 49 extending lengthwise of the chamber and termin'ating ina hot air flue 50 running parallel with the inner and/or outer sides of each 'bank orgroup of chambers.

With su'ch'an 'a'rrangement `communication between the chambers and the hot air flues may be established "and 'interrupted bythe provision of pipes l extending through the outer roof or cover and into openings 52 in the 'vault or arch of each chamber in such manner that when in this position fuel may be 'supplied to the chamber or when raised from 'the 'openings in the arch of the chamber may permithot airto travel in an inward or 'outward 'direction to or from the chamber andfrom'and into the hot air fiue.

As will be seen the fire connection flues, smoke and damp air flues and'the hot air flues are mutually'independent systems of fiues.

I claim:

1. A continuous kiln for burning bricks and the like comprising a"bank of chambers adapted to be fired in an appropriate sequence, a 'channel in the base of each of the said chambers, rail tracks located in the channels Whereby trolleys supporting sections constituting removable floor arches with goods loaded thereon 'may 'be introduced into and withdrawn from the chambers, and fire connection fiues interconnecting alternate chambers of the bank so that the ring of necessity travels in succession 'through alternate chambers of the bank.

2. A continuous kiln for burning bricks and the like comprising a bank of chambers adapted to be fired in an appropriate sequence, each of said chambers having a portion adapted for the setting of goods therein and aportion which is not so adapted, a channel in the base of each of said chambers, rail tracks located in the channels Whereby trolleys supporting sections constituting removable floor arches with goods loaded thereon may be introduced into and withdrawn from the chambers, and fire connection flues interconnecting alternate chambers of the bank and opening into the chambers at the portions thereof which are not adapted for the setting of goods therein 'so that 'the firing of necessity travels in succession 'through alternate chambers of the bank.

3. A continuous kiln for burning bricks and the 'like comprising a bank 'of chambers adapted to be fired in an appropriate sequence, each of said chambers having a portion adapted for the setting of goods therein and a portion which is not so adapted, a channel in the base of each of said chambers, rail tracks located in the channels Whereby trolleys supporting sections constituting removable floor arches with goods loaded thereon may be 'introduced into and withdrawn from the chambers, fire connection flues interconnecting alternate chambers of the bank and opening into the "chambers at the portions thereof'which are not adapted for the setting of goods therein so that the firing of necessity travels in succession through alternate chambers of the bank, and 'smoke or damp air fiues which also open into the chambers at the portions thereof which are notadapted'for the setting of goods therein. t

4. A continuous 'kiln for burning bricks and the like comprising a bank of chambers adapted to be fired in an appropriate sequence, each of said chambers having a portion adapted for the setting of goods therein and a portion which is not so adapted, a channel in the base of each of said chambers, rail tracks located in the channels whereby trolleys supporting sections constituting removable floor arches with goods loaded thereon may be introduced into and withdrawn from the chambers, fire connection flues interconnecting 

